Bracknell Forest

Bracknell Forest's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure.

The population passed 110,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Bracknell Forest increased by 3.3%, from just under 110,000 to 113,000.

The addition of almost 3,600 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Bracknell Forest was home to, on average, 7.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Bracknell Forest

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Bracknell Forest increased by two years, from 35 to 37 years.

This affluent suburban area had a lower average age than the South East and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 2,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 4,000.

About 9.0% of people in Bracknell Forest are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Bracknell Forest by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Bracknell Forest

The percentage of Bracknell Forest residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 5.7% to 5.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 1.9% in 2001. The percentage of Bracknell Forest residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 92% to 91%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Bracknell Forest, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Bracknell Forest, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.9% in 2001 to 13% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Bracknell Forest remained close to 17%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 72% to 68%.

Private renting in Bracknell Forest increased by 4.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Bracknell Forest, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Bracknell Forest

The number of people in Bracknell Forest from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 2,500 in 2001 to just under 5,700 in 2011. This represents a change from 2.3% to 5.0% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 2.6% to 5.0%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 5.2% to 8.0%).

The number of people in Bracknell Forest from the White ethnic groups remained close to 100,000 between the last two censuses (from 95% to 91% of the population). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 1,300 to just over 2,300 (from 1.2% to 2.0%).

About 2,200 people (1.0%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 1,100 in 2001 (1.9%).

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Bracknell Forest increased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Bracknell Forest by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Bracknell Forest residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.6% to 3.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (87%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75% in 2001. The percentage of Bracknell Forest residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19% to 10%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Bracknell Forest decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Bracknell Forest, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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